Indicating fuse cut-out



May 23, 1939.

E. M. MEYER Filed May 3, 1935 Patented May 23, 1939 2,159,039

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INDICA'I'IN G FUSE CUT- OUT Edwin M. Meyer, Parkersburg, W. Va., assignor to Porcelain Products, Inc., Hancock County, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application Maw 3, 1935, Serial No. 19,719

7 Claims. (Cl. 200-114) The invention to which this specification report in the usual manner. The housing hasan lates is an improvement in the fuse-holders of open or flaring bottom 1 inwhich the lower end electrical cut-outs or circuit breakers. Devices of the fuse tube projects. The front of the housof this type are in general holders for the reing is open and the sides extended at the bottom 5 placeable iusible means and adapted to be into provide spaced ears 8 which form pivotal supserted in high-tension electric circuits. Under ports for the cover of the housing.

such operating conditions it is essential for these The cover 9 is formed of insulating material fuses or cut-outs'to be located in close proximity similar or analogous to that of the housing 5. to the high tension conductors and as a conse- At its lower end H) the cover is mounted between 10 quence relatively inaccessible for inspection or the members 8 by means of the pivot H so that 10 maintenance. Therefore, it has been found to the cover is free to be moved to and from open be a considerable problem to provide a cut-out and closed positions. A finger grip I2 is molded having an electric fuse convenient for installaintegrally with the cover or attached thereto in tion and inspection and at the same time capable any convenient manner. The inner face of the 5 of ready removal and replacement. cover has a collar 13 at its upper end. This col- 15 One of the objects of my invention is to prolar is also formed integrally with the cover or vide a fuse-holder suitable for installation in any I may be attached thereto, in either event being one of numerous conventional cut-outs and proformed .of insulating material. The opposite viding them with peculiar operating advantages. sides of the collar have ears l4, i4.

A further object of my invention is to provide I The lower edges of the sides of the collar have 20 a fuse-holder of this type which will embody rnediametrically opposed slots I5, 15 which are open chanical means for effectively and positively at the bottom. breaking the circuit when the fuse link is melted. Suitably spaced beneath the collar 13 is a Among the objects of my invention is the comspring clip 16. The collar l3 and the spring clip 5 plete separation of the fuse-holder from one of i6 extend inwardly of the cover and form supthe conducting terminals by mechanical means ports for holding the fuse-holder. A shoulder I1 and immediately following the melting of the extends transversely of the inner face of the fuse wire. cover beneath the spring clip i3 and forms a rest The fuse-holder embodying my invention has or abutment for the fuse-holder.

the further advantage of forming an indicator The housing has an upper recess I8. This re- 30 of the "blown condition of the fuse which will cess has openings through the opposite side walls be observable from a considerable distance. of the housing to provide passageways l9, HI

Incidentally, the arrangement of the fusethrough which the insulated wire high-tension holder is such that its installation in the housing conductors are adapted to pass.

will always place it in the exact position neces- Within the recess l8 and between the passage- 35 sary for the proper functioning of the fuse as a ways l9, IS the housing carries a terminal 20. circuit breaker and indicator. This terminal has feet 2! which rest against the By way of example, I have shown in the accomback wall of the housing and against which the panying drawing the preferred form in which my terminal is held. The upper portion of the terinvention may be embodied although minor variminal includes a transverse tube or opening reg- 0 ations in detail will be readily apparent. As istering with the passageways [9, Hand adapted shown in the drawing to receive the end of the conductor through either Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section on passageway. The conductor or cable is held the line li of Fig. 3, of a fuse cut-out containfirmly within oneend of the tube 22 by means ing the improved fuse tube; of one of the binding screws 23. 45

Fig. 2 is aside elevation of the fuse tube show- A resilient metal strap 24 extends across the ing it in the blown or indicating position, and base of the casting 20 and its ends are bent out- Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line wardly to form a yoke 25. The ends 26, 26 of the 33 of, Fig. 1. yoke snap into recesses 21, 21 in the side walls The general'arrangement of the fuse tube and of the housing as shown in Fig. 3. In this man- 50 the customary or conventional type of housing her the casting 20 is held in firm position with is shown in Fig. 1. The housing 5,is of porcelain its feet 2| against the back of the housing 5. or other fired plastic or suitably prepared insu- The front face of the casting 20 forms the suplatlng material. This housing is supported by port for two resilient conducting strips 28 which means 6 on a cross arm, wire pole, or other supform the contacting member engaging over the 55 end of the tube holder.

closed position. The cover of course may be opened by the exertion of a definite pull on the finger grip l2'but otherwise the cover is free from the probability of accidental opening. A rivet 32 passes through the casting 28 and holds it firmly in contact with the members 24, 28 and 29.

The housing is provided with a lower recess 33. This recess has openings 34 extending through the side walls oftthe housing in the same manner as the openings IS.

A casting 35 is mounted within the recess 33 and held in position by means of a yoke 36 operating in the same manner as the yoke 25.

The casting 35 carries on its front face a laminated resilient contact member '31 as shown in Fig. 1. The yoke 36 and contact member 31 are held upon opposite faces of the casting 35 by means of a rivet, stud or the like 38.

The electric conductor which forms the continuation of the one connected to the tube 22, passes through an opening 34 and is attached to the lower terminal 35 by means of the tube 39 and a screw 48.

In a device of the above type, the fuse is adapted to be held in the cover and to bridge the gap between the contact members 28 and 31.. In the form of my invention illustrated, this fuse means comprises an insulating fiber or similar, .tube 4| and its associated parts. The upper end of the tube 4| carries a ferrule of metal or the like 42. This ferrule is generally cylindrical in form and firmly attached to the tube 4|. The ferrule has diametrically extending lugs 43 which, as shown in Fig. 1, are adapted to seat the ferrule within the collar 13 and thus assure the proper positioning of the tube 4|. 7

The ferrule is hollow and its upper end externally screw-threaded as shown at 44 in Fig. 2. A cap 45 is screwed on the thread 44 and against the button-end of the fuse element or wire. The end of the cap 45 is generally spherical for easy engagement and contact with the spring contact member 28. Y

The lower end of the tube 4| is open. Spaced a short distance from this open end the tune carries a collar 48. This collar is firmly attached to the tube. On opposite sides of the tube the collar has upstanding lugs 41 which are spaced slightly from the surface of the tube 4| to receive an expansion spring.

A sleeve 48 surrounds the tube 4| and has a sliding fit thereon. The tube may slide within the sleeve limited only by the positions of the ferrules 42 and 46.

'The upper end of the sleeve 48 is enlarged to form a cup 49 of sufficient size to permit the main portion of the ferrule 42 to drop within the cup 49 until the end of the former is stopped by the lugs 43 as shown in Fig. 2.

The lower end 58 of the sleeve 48 is similarly enlarged to form another cup also spaced from the tube 4|: An helical expansion spring 5| is carried within the cup 58 and fits loosely over the tube 4| as indicated in Fig. 2. It will be seen that the sleeve 48 thus has a medial portion of minimum diameter between the cups 49 and 58.

The cup 58 is mutilated on opposite sides to form recesses 52 conforming in shape to the lugs 41 on the collar 46. The lugs 41 fit within the with the spring contact 28.

tact 31 rests under tension against the cup-shaped v running from the button-end beneath the cap 45 passes through theopen end of the tube 4| and is fastened to the binding post 55 while the spring 5| is compressed and the collar 48 maintained in contact with the end of the cup 50. The'fuse 58 may, if desired, be wrapped around 56 and clamped'between the nut 51 and spring 53.

In this position the binding post 55 forms a latch over the end of the collar 46 and with the fuse wire, serves to hold the spring 5| compressed. The binding post 55 remains in this position as long as the stranded fuse wire 58 is unbroken. In this position the force of the spring 5| is sustained by the binding post 55 and the spring 53.

In the assembly and use of this device, it will be understood that the fuse holder is loaded by threading the fuse wire 58 through the ferrule 42 and out of the lower end of the fuse tube 4|. The sleeve 48 and the collar 48 are brought together compressing the coil spring 5|. In this movement the lugs 41 fit in the recesses 52 and thus establish the position of the sleeve 48 which carries the spring 53 in such manner that the latter will be in 'a plane parallel to the diameter through the lugs 43. As the lugs 41 fit the recess 52 the collar 46 passes beyond the binding post 55 and the latter is latched over the collar. The fuse wire 58 is then wrapped around the binding post 55 or the threaded shank 56 and tightened against the spring 53 by means of the knurled nut 51. 58 on the spring 53 maintains the latter parallel to the tube 4| with the binding post 55 forming a latch for the collar 46. The fuse-holder thus holds the ferrule 42 at its most remote position from the slidable sleeve 48.

In its armed and loaded position the fuse holder thus described is adapted to be held on the inner face of the cover 9. When so armed the lugs 43 0f the fuse holder fit in the recesses l5 of the collar I3 and the sleeve 48 is then in a proper position to fit within the spring clip I6. The

spring clip I6 fits in the portion of. the sleeve 48' which has a minimum diameter with one cupshaped end 49 above and the other end 58 below. These cup-shaped ends prevent material longitudinal movement of the sleeve with respect to the spring clip l8. It will be seen that the position of the lugs 43 within the recesses |5 brings the spring 53 and the knurled nut 51 on the side of the tube 4| opposite from the cover 9.

The fuse holder having been thus mounted within the collar 3 and the clip IS, the cover 9 is swung into closed position. -As evident from Fig. 3 the flaring ends 3| of the latch 38 ride over the ears M of the collar |3 to form a fastening for the latter. At the same time the cap 45 is' brought into good conducting engagement The opposite conend 49 of the sleeve 48.

In this position current reaching terminal 28;

for example, passes through the spring contact 28, the cap 45, the fuse wire 58, leaf spring 53, sleeve 8, spring contact 31, casting and finally t0 the conductor in the tube 39.

" The fuse link or wire 58 is of course calibrated gives a positive and consequential downward movement to the tube 4|.

The immediate result of this movement is to release the upper ferrule 42' from its attachment in'the collar l3 and cause the cap "to break contact with the member 28. This effectively breaks the circuit.

At the same time, as there is nothing to hold the tube II in its upper position it will drop by gravity until the lugs 43 strike the cup 49. By

this time the free end of the tube ll together with the collar 45 will extend beneath the flaring end I of the housing and be readily apparent to more convenient, the sleeve 40 can be separated from spring clip l8 and the fuse holder thus removedfor replacement by a fresh fuse or reloading and re-installation.-

The advantages of this form of fuse holder will be evident from the above description, without further 'elaboration.. The device is marked by the facility with which it may be manufac- 'tured, installed and maintained. It is also capable of considerable variation in design and proportions without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A fuse tube comprising an insulating tube. a ferrule on one end of the tube, a collar surrounding the tube and spaced from the opposite end thereof, a sleeve slidable over the tube between the ferrule and collar, said sleeve having an 811;"

larged internal, recess at one end for receiving the ferrule, means releasably holding the collar and sleeve in engagement, and tension means for separating the collar from the sleeve and moving the tube through the sleeve.

2.. A fuse tube comprising an insulating tube, a

ferrule on one end of the tube, a collar snrrounding the tube and spaced from the opposite end thereof, a lug on the collar'spaced from the tube, a sleeve slldable over the tube between the ferrule and collar, a recessed end for the sleeve, said end being notched to receive the lug of the collar, means releasably holding the collar and sleeve in engagement, and tension means for separating the collar from the sleeve and moving the tube siidably through the sleeve.

' outside the housing.

3. A fuse tube comprising an insulating tube, a

ferrule on one end of the tube, engaging lugs on the ferrule, a collar surrounding the tube and spaced from the opposite end thereof, a lug on the collar spaced from the tube and in the same plane with the said engaging lugs on the ferrule, a-sleeve slldable over the tube between the ferrule and collar, a recessed end for the sleeve, said end having a notched portion to receive the lug of the collar, means on the sleeve laterally of said notched portion for releasably holding the collar and sleeve in engagement, and tension means for separating the collar from the sleeve and moving the tube siidably through the sleeve.

4. In combination with a housing having a cover therefor with two spaced attaching means, a fuse holder comprising a tube having a ferrule releasably held by one of said attaching means, a sleeve slldable over the tube-and held by the other attaching means, a collar on the tube and spaced'from the ferrule, means releasably holding the collar and sleeve in engagement, and

tension means for separating the collar from the sleeve and for moving the tube away from the first named attaching peana,

5. A fuse holder comprising an insulating tube, a ferrule on one end of the tube, engaging lugs on the ferrule, acap for removably closing the end of the ferrule, a collar surrounding the tube and spaced from the opposite end thereof; a lug on the collar extending iongitudinally of the tube and spaced therefrom; a sleeve siidably mounted on the tube between the ferrule and the collar, said sleeve having a central portion of reduced diameter, one end of the sleeve having an enlarged internal recess receiving said ferrule, the opposite end of the sleeve being notched to fit the lug on the collar and having an enlarged internal recess, a coil springheld in said last; named recess, a leaf spring'mounted 9n the side of the sleeve and a latch and a binding post on the leaf spring.

6. Aiuse cut out comprising a housing, a cover hinged to the housing, a collar attached to the cover and having recesses, detents on the periphcry of said collar, latches mounted within the housing and engaging the said detents, a spring clip on said cover spaced from the said collar, a sleeve held by said clip, a fuse tube slldable in said sleeve, a ferrule on one endof the tube, lugs on the ferrule engagi g the in saidcollar,

' a second ferrule on the opposite end of the tube,

said second named ferrule having guides slldable through the sleeve, a coil springbetween the sleeve and the second ferrule, a spring-held latch on the sleeve, a fastening on the latch an?! a fuse link attached thereto for holding said latch over the second named ferrule.

7. In combination with a housing. having a cover therefor with two' spaced attaching means, a fuse holder comprising a tube having a ferrule enclosed by one of said attaching means, a sleeve slldable over the tube and held by the other attaching means, acollar on the tube and spacedfrom the ferrule, means releasably holding the and exposing the end-of the tube with the collar anwm u 

